Pats continue to evaluate free agents

FOXBORO — There are some NFL people — quite a few, probably — who say that one of the many reasons the Patriots are among the favorites in the league this season is their depth.

By PAUL KENYON | | Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO - There are some NFL people - quite a few, probably -who say that one of the many reasons the Patriots are among thefavorites in the league this season is their depth.

Last Thursday, when the Pats hosted Jacksonville in theirpreseason opener, scouts from 16 other NFL teams had seats in thepress box to get in-person views of players New England might haveto jettison in a couple of weeks. The Pats have brought in so manynew players that they all but certainly will have to cut guys whowere with the team last season.

Apparently, though, there is not enough depth for Bill Belichickand Nick Caserio.

There were multiple reports Monday that the team had threeveterans in for workouts - wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh andsafeties Darren Sharper and Renaldo Hill.

Caserio, the Pats director of player personnel, was the teamspokesman for the day. He never mentioned any player by name, buthe confirmed that the team is still seeking any free agent whomight help.

"In terms of the process, we're not really doing anythingdifferent this year than in years past whether it's workouts orevaluating other team's personnel. It's the same process," Caseriosaid.

"Because free agency sort of coincided with the beginning of theseason, there are a few more players that have a little bit moreexperience that are still available," he explained. "We've takenApril and May and sort of fast forwarded it to August. There are'X' amount of players that are still available for whateverreason.

"We're no different than any other team. You do your homeworkand try to get an idea of who the next best player may be among whoare available," he said.

The team is simply doing due diligence, as Caserio put it, bybringing in anyone who might help.

Still, working out Houshmandzadeh, a former teammate of ChadOchocinco's in Cincinnati and Deion Branch in Seattle, is asurprise. The Patriots have 11 receivers in camp. Several veterans,among them Brandon Tate, Matthew Slater and even Julian Edelmanappear to be fighting for roster spots.

Houshmandzadeh has more than 7,000 career receiving yards and 43touchdowns. At age 33, the question would be how much he has left.The Patriots wanted to find out.

Having two safeties, on the other hand, is not at allsurprising. The safety spot is one area where the team does nothave much depth.

Patrick Chung is locked in at one of the safety spots. BrandonMeriweather is the other starter at that position. He was goodenough to be named to his second Pro Bowl last season, but the teamhas never seemed to be fully comfortable with him, in part becausehe has been known to do more freelancing at times than Belichickprefers. Last season, James Sanders started ahead of Meriweatherearly on. Sanders, though, has had injury problems. He has playedlittle in training camp and remains out. Also, the team last weekcut Brandon McGowan, who saw action at that spot.

What's more, Meriweather has had some off-field issues that donot help him. For the last two days at practice, he has spent moretime working with the second unit than the starters. Sergio Browntook his spot both Sunday and then Monday, when the heavy rainforced practice indoors.

Caserio was asked about Meriweather and gave him a positivereview.

"He's a player that had a lot of versatility coming out ofMiami. He played some corner, played some safety, actually played alittle bit of star (playing the slot receiver). We've tried him ina number of different roles," Caserio said.

"Brandon [Meriweather] has been a productive player since he'sbeen here. He's had production, he's got a lot of experience in oursystem, he's a talented player. Is it perfect? No. Is he workinghard to get better? That's the most important thing."

The two safeties brought in Monday both have extensiveexperience.

Sharper is a five-time All-Pro who is 35-years-old and was cutby Denver, in part to save money, at the start of training camp.Hill is a 10-year vet who has played for Denver, Oakland, Miami andArizona.

Chung was asked after practice what he thought about the teambringing in free agents at his position. He said he was not awareof it and did not care.

"I don't think about it. I'm out here trying to figure out whatwe're doing right now with the guys," he said. "If they're on theteam, great. If not, fine. … I'm not worried about thatstuff."

He was asked what he thinks of the issues.

"Those are questions for coach," he said. "We're just out herewith the guys we've got."